Faith, reason, and the educated Christian Creationism - College and ...

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has made (NRSV).” Those who, in spite of the evidence, deny His existence and creative power “are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). However, when Thomas expressed doubts about the reality of Christ’s resurrection, Christ provided the physical evidence and challenged him to “‘Stop doubting and believe’” (John 20:27-29). When we are confronted with questions regarding the origin of the universe, our point of departure should be faith based on God’s revelation: “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible” (Hebrews 11:3). 9 5. God offers clear guidance for life, but accepts the choices we make. In the Garden of Eden, God gave to Adam and Eve the power of choice—to obey or disobey Him—and warned them of the terribly sad consequences of choosing the latter (Genesis 2:16, 17). Speaking through Moses, God reiterated the options: “‘I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction…. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live’” (Deuteronomy 30:15, 19). His appeals to human conscience are exquisitely courteous: “‘Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me’” (Revelation 3:20). Above all, God seeks from His creatures love, obedience, and worship that are freely chosen and reasoned (John 4:23, 24; 14:15; Romans 12:1 [logikén = reasonable and spiritual]). 6. Faith and reason work together in the believer’s life and witness. Paul stated that the acceptance of Christ as Saviour depended on a rational understanding of the gospel: “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). Christians are expected to be “always…prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15 [answer = apologían in Greek, defense, justification; reason = lógon in Greek, a word, an explanation]). Peter also encourages Christians to “make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge” (2 Peter 1:5, 6). Dealing with questions and doubts Let us now look at the practical implications of what we have examined. How should Bible-believing Christians deal with the tension that inevitably arises between their faith and their reason when they face conflicting issues in their study, research, or life experience? The following suggestions can help: 10 1. Remember that truth is inseparable from God. God created us as rational, inquisitive creatures. He is honored when we exercise our mental abilities to explore, discover, learn, and invent as we interact with the world that He created and sustains. Whenever we use our rationality and creativity in an attitude of humility and gratitude, we are loving God with our mind. Believers should not be afraid of study, research, and discoveries. If there are discrepancies between “God’s truth” and “human truth,” it is because we misunderstand one or the other or both. Since in Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3), all truth is God’s truth. 2. Accept that the Bible does not tell us everything there is to know. God’s knowledge is infinitely broader and deeper than ours. For that reason, He had to condescend to our level in order to establish communication with us, within our ability to comprehend. As Jesus told the disciples, “‘I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear’” (John 16:12). In addition, our human fallenness impairs and limits our understanding. “Now we see but a poor reflection…; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). The Bible can be approached as a book of history or literature or laws or biography. But its main purpose is to help us know God and to teach us how to become friends with Him and live godly lives in preparation for eternity. In the New Earth we will have the time and the opportunity to explore and learn from the vast complexity of the cosmos and its inhabitants. 3. Distinguish between God’s Word and human interpretations. Human traditions and preconceived ideas frequently make us read things into the Bible that are not there. A sobering example is the case of Copernicus (1473-1543), who, on the basis of his study and observations, proposed that the planets, including the Earth, revolved around the Sun. Since most astronomers still accepted Ptolemy’s geocentric theory, many religious leaders of that time considered Copernicus’ ideas heretical. They believed that because of the importance of human beings and the centrality of this Earth in God’s plans, the Sun and planets must revolve around the Earth. When Galileo and Kepler provided evidence in favor of Copernicus’s views, the discovery did not destroy God or Christianity. Three centuries later, Charles Darwin argued against many theologians of his time, who believed in the absolute fixity of the species, which is not required by the Bible narrative. Not many years ago, some Christians stated that God would not allow humans to travel in space or land on the Moon. Again, those statements were proven wrong, showing they were based on personal interpretations and extrapolations. 4. Realize that the scientific enterprise is an ongoing exploration of one segment of reality. Experimental science deals only with phenomena that can be observed, measured, manipulated, repeated, and falsified. Contrary to the impression that one gains from many science textbooks and the popular media, modern experimental science fre- 8 Dialogue 15:3 2003
quently leads to adjustments. True, many of the basic laws are universally accepted. But as scientists continue their research, they take for granted that theories and explanations that were accepted for years may be replaced by other theories and interpretations that seem more accurate and reliable. 11 As a matter of method, scientists work in their disciplines within a naturalistic framework, which excludes the supernatural. Many of them are agnostics or atheists; however, their beliefs are not based on scientific evidence but on personal choice. Scientists who are open to the possibility that God exists, find in the natural world abundant evidence that there is an Intelligent Designer who planned and sustains the universe and life. 5. Create a mental file for unresolved issues. Some questions will inevitably arise in our studies, in our life’s experience, and even in the Bible for which we don’t have satisfactory answers. In some cases, we find an explanation later. In other cases, questions remain unresolved. A classic example is the tension between our belief in an all-powerful, loving God and the suffering of the innocent. Although there are abundant evidences of God’s power and care, we cannot fully understand why human tragedies and natural disasters occur in a universe in which He is sovereign. As other believers before us, we try to make sense of this and other deep mysteries. The best we can do with these issues is to suspend judgment, keep studying them prayerfully, and seek the counsel of mature believers. Some day we will gain a new insight into the mystery or God will make these contradictions clear to us. Faith in God and recognition of our own mental limitations demand that we learn to live with some uncertainties and mysteries. Conclusion As a way of illustrating the main thrust of this essay, we can depict our Dialogue 15:3 2003 mind as a court of law that operates every day of our lives, its integrity and freedom protected by God Himself. 12 At court our individual will sits as the judge, while reason and faith are the lawyers that bring evidence to consider and witnesses to present their views. The evidence and the testimony they provide comes from a wide variety of sources, which include: the influence of people we love and respect, the feeling of loving and being loved, our social interaction and dialogue with others, observations of the natural world, spiritual experiences in prayer and service, readings and research, joys and sorrows of life, individual and collective worship, response to beauty in the arts, effect of our habits and lifestyle, and the search for inner consistency and authenticity. Our will sifts daily through this multiplicity of emotional, spiritual, rational, and aesthetic perceptions and data, comparing them with the code—our worldview. 13 At times, the arguments advanced will be accepted and will strengthen our faith convictions. At other times, the evidence presented will trigger an adjustment in our worldview and a modification of our beliefs. These changes, in turn, will have an impact on our conduct. Other times, the will prefers not to decide. Sitting courteously in the background, the Holy Spirit is ready to speak a word of caution, correction, or affirmation. Other voices, perhaps of uninvited observers, are also heard in the courtroom, raising objections, presenting contrary evidence, and insinuating doubts. The court of our will continues to deliberate until the last day of our conscious life. As thoughtful Christians, we are called to love God with both our mind and our will, integrating in our life the demands of faith and intellect. For the educated believer, there is “no incompatibility between vital faith and deep, disciplined, wide-ranging learning, between piety and hard thinking, between the life of faith and the life of the mind.” 14 In order to nurture these three facets of our God-given abilities—faith, intellect, and will—we must deepen daily our friendship with God and our commitment to truth. He trusts that, in the face of the evidence available to us, we will be intelligent decision-makers. 15 Humberto M. Rasi (Ph.D., Stanford University), recently retired from being the director of the General Conference Education Department, and continues to be the editorin-chief of Dialogue. Notes and references Unless otherwise noted, all Bible passages in this essay are quoted from the New International Version. 1. Ellen G. White, Education (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press, 1952), p. 17. 2. Ibid. 3. In the same book, Ellen G. White defines faith crisply: “Faith is trusting God, believing that He loves us and knows best what is for our good” (p. 253). 4. ”You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder” (James 2:19). 5. See Hugo A. Meynell, “Faith and Reason” in The Encyclopedia of Modern Christian Thought, edited by Alister E. McGrath (Oxford: Blackwell, 1993), pp. 214-219. 6. Stephen Jay Gould, the recently deceased author and teacher of the history of science at Harvard University, declared that “the conflict between science and religion exists only in people’s minds, not in the logic or proper utility of these entirely different, and equally vital subjects.” In his view, “science tries to document the factual character of the natural world, and to develop theories that coordinate and explain these facts. Religion, on the other hand, operates in the equally important, but utterly different, realm of human purposes, meanings, and values.” (Quoted in Houston Smith, Why Religion Matters [Harper San Francisco, 2001], pp. 70, 71). 7. The Apostle Paul argues thus: “Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do no have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them” (Romans 2:14, 15). Continued on page 16. 9
Page 1 and 2: Published in English French Portugu
Page 3 and 4: Editorial The first 15 years With t
Page 5 and 6: Faith, reason, and the educated Chr
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Page 13 and 14: He is risen indeed! by David Marsha
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Page 25 and 26: gave him an eternal vision, to see
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Page 29 and 30: Shine, baby, shine by Will Koenig T
Page 31 and 32: Stranger in the road Continued from
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Page 37 and 38: Interchange Expand Your Friendship
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Page 43 and 44: ____. “Desperate escape (Ponomaro

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